Cofferdam



y 1941- I M. R.MEACHAM ETAL 3 COFFERDAM filed 001;;- 18, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l May 6, 1941. M. R. MEACHAM ETAL COFFERDAM Filed Oct. 181939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1941 *C'OFFERDAM Merle It. Meachamand Otto Lessing, Elizabeth, N. J., assignors to Standard OilDevelopment Company, a corporation of Delaware Application OctoberlS,1939, Serial No. 299,918

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and means for preventing thepollution of watersurrounding tank ships, barges and the like, caused byleakage from the vessel or container. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a means for confining such leakage to a restricted watersurface area from which it may be substantially and readily removed asrequired. Specifically, the invention is embodied in a floating,segmental cofferdam, the ends of which may be attached to the hull of abarge or tank vessel, to provide an enclosed collection area from whichthe leakage of materials such as oil may be removed from the surface inany convenient manner.

The invention may be fully understood from the following specificationwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a plan view showing in reduced scale a cofierdam applied to a ship orbarge;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cofferdam with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the cofferdam with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line V--V of Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cofferdam is formed of four separable sectionsincluding end sections and side sections, which are secured to theship's hull in any convenient manner, as by magnets. As shown, thecofferdam structure provides an enclosed area A adjacent a point ofleakage X.

In Fig. 2 the construction of the side section elements I of thecofferdam indicated in Fig. l are more clearly illustrated. Each sectionincludes a rectangular curtain 2 of canvas or another suitable material,having a loop 2a at its upper edge, forming a compartment adapted toreceive an inflatable or self-buoyant float member 3. The float memberwhich may be permanently or removably secured in the loop or compartment2a is preferably an inflatable tube of rubber or a like material havinga valve 30. for which suitable provision is made in the loop 2a. At thelower edge of the curtain 2, a rope 4 is secured, in loops, to thematerial of the curtain, the several loops supporting a plurality ofstabilizer weights 5 which are of such number and size as to maintainthe curtain 2 in a vertical position, buoyantly supported by the floatmembers 3. Incidentally, the float members 3 should provide a buoyanteifect suflicient to maintain the upper surface of the loop 20; a fewinches higher than the surface of the water on either side. Along eachvertical edge of the curta in 2, a means, such as slidefastener-elements 6, is provided for a substantiallyliquid tight jointbetween side sections and the endsections I.

As shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the end section I is quite similar to theside section elements I. It is composed of the same sort of curtainmember 2, a float member 3 and the rope supported stabilizer weights 5.The section I difiers from a section I, however, in that it is equippedwith a fastener element 6 on only one vertical edge, the other edgebeing secured between two vertical plate members 8. The plate members 8are preferable formed of a resilient metallic material having onestraight, longitudinal edge and a curved, flanged portion 9 at the otheredge. At intervals along the outer surface provided by the adjacentflanges 9, magnets I0 are secured in fixed relation to the flangesurfaces, while at either side of the magnets, flexible and resilientsealing members II are secured to the portion of the flanges 9 whichextends sideward beyond the magnets. It is intended that the sealingmembers I I normally shall extend slightly beyond the outer faces of themagnets In so that when the magnets are drawn against a flat butsubstantially uneven surface, the sealing members may be sufficientlycompressed and distorted to provide a liquid seal therewith, preventingthe escape of collected leakage between the curtain and the vessel side.The resilient flanges 9 aid in the sealing action. The magnets I0 may beenergized in any suitable fashion as through the wire I2.

Although the flanges 9 have been shown as extending the entire length ofeach of plates 8, and the sealing members II have been shown in asimilar fashion, it should be obvious that for the purpose intended, theflanges 9 may be reduced to suitably spaced ears adapted to receive themagnet members III, and the sealing members shortened to an extent thatthey merely provide a seal for a short distance above and below thewater line. In such instance, the uppermost ear or flange portions wouldbe extended to provide the required resilient seal support. Furthermore,the sealing members I I may be inflated tubes, resilient cylinders or ofany other suitable nature.

In operation of the device described, after a leak has been located, ineven an approximate fashion, a suitable number of side section elementsI are fastened together, and an end element 1 attached to each end. Theassembled cofferdam is then lowered into the water and If for any reasonthe cofierdam It is not intended that the invention shall i be limitedby such specific description as set forth for the purpose ofillustration, but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a canvas curtainincluding a center portion and end portions spaced thereby, a reverseloop in the upper edge of each curtain portion, an inflatable floatmember disposed within each loop, weight means secured to the lower edgeof each portion, a plate member secured to each end portion at its outeredge, resilient wing members, integral with said plate, and extendinglaterally therefrom, a plurality of magnets disposed in spaced relationalong the vertical edge of each plate member between said wings, andinflatable tube, sealing members secured to said wing elements laterallyof the plates and magnets, said sealing members protruding slightlybeyond the magnets, when inflated.

2. An apparatus for segregating leakage into water, of a material oflower specific gravity, from a container therefor partially immersed insaid water, comprising a curtain of a flexible material,electro-magnetic means for supporting said curtain vertically againstthe container in substantially liquid-tight relation at the opposite endportions of said curtain, a plurality of hollow compartmentssubstantially integral with the upper edge of said curtain and in spacedrelation thereon, a plurality of buoyant members insertable in saidcompartments, maintaining the upper edge of the curtain slightly abovewater level, and stabilizer weight means secured to the lower edge ofsaid curtain.

MERLE R. M'EACHAM. OTTO LESSING.

r s-rev.

